Railroads and Immigration

The advantages and resources of early Nebraska
were extensively publicized by the Union Pacific and the Burlington,
the state's two major railroads. Each had been given large land
grants by the federal government or by the state. The railroads
were anxious to dispose of these lands to prospective settlers
so that towns and farms could be developed along the lines as
quickly as possible to provide a profitable carrying trade.

Both roads conducted vigorous promotional
campaigns. They stationed immigration agents in the East and
in northern and central Europe. Millions of brochures describing
the prospects of Nebraska were distributed. The railroads helped
exhibit the state's products at fairs and expositions, and conducted
special "land-seeking" excursions with the understanding
that if the excursionist decided to purchase land, his fare could
be applied to the payment. The Beatrice Express on September
10, 1874, noted the Burlington's ongoing efforts to attract settlers
to Nebraska:

"The B. & M. R. R. Co. is accomplishing
one thing that should entitle them to the sincerest gratitude
of every citizen of Nebraska who has an interest in seeing the
broad prairies of his state settled upon and improved and its
taxable wealth increased. They are doing more than all other
agencies combined (excepting the U.P. Co.) to promote immigration
into the common-wealth. They are making every effort to induce
colonies, both home and foreign, and individuals to locate in
the State, and to this end, run excursion trains to and from
the East, offer their lands at low figures and on easy terms,
send agents to Europe and to all parts of the United States to
induce emigrants to come West and buy their lands, issue countless
circulars showing the advantages and resources of the State,
and in many other ways aid in providing settlers for these vacant
acres that surround us. To be sure all this is done directly
for their own interests, but in this day of sharp conflict between
railroads and the people, this fact should not blind us to the
truth of the statement that in this matter of immigration their
interests are the people's interests. The State pays to support
a Board of Immigration [established by the Nebraska Legislature
in 1870], whose purpose is just that of this railroad company--to
bring settlers into the State. Yet the latter is accomplishing
infinitely more than the Immigration Board, without cost to the
State."